the island is gorgeous here. there are 16 or 17 vineyards and quite a few trails around here. the island has a variety of beaches from perfect soft sand to pebbles. this boat is from 1912 and hmmm cant remember the other interesting fact about it!! heh heh the last pic is one of lil alexander. my camera broke a few weeks ago and the tricks have let me borrow one of their digi cams...i was testing different settings, and not too bad eh?
last sunday was alexanders' 3rd bday party....it was a blast! ilona and mike created an architectural masterpiece for the kids and alexander. it was a pirate themed party with invites and party favors to match. towards the end of the party ilona and mike put on a great magician show that had the kids laughing and jumping outta their seats...
(mike alexander and ilona)
magical mystical ilona
so i am living quite the luxorious lifestyle here in waiheke...or as stephen merriman calls it "the 'heke." i got in to meet the trick's and their son on may 12th ish and got an amazing tour of the island...Its a very arsty, laid back island...you'll see many cars with bumper stickers that read "far enough behind to still be ahead" and its quite suiting. mike and ilona are great to be around. i have felt at home in their house since i walked in the door. mike and ilona were living in Pittsburgh before coming here for a year. Micheal is doing work and research over at Auckland University and Ilona is trying to keep the waiheke heritage museum afloat... alexander is my new friend i hang out with ;) technically am a live in nanny, but i avoid the term nanny at all costs. We get along great. He is a bright kid and always has a bright smile on his face. alexander just turned 3 and is quite adorable. ah yes, so the pictures above... the top left is taken from the house i am in staying in. the house is gorgeous and as you can see has great views. we can walk to the beach in under 3 minutes and as in russell, i can hear the waves crashing (in my king sized bed!!!!) from my room.
this photo is a statue of a very enlarged set of lips....michealangelo's david to be exact...
the other pics are of the beach beneath the house, and the other day i was fortunate to see a group of horses galloping on the sand... 
see why i labeled this entry "i hit the jackpot"
craig is a scottish chef that stumbled into our lives in russell for about one week. we all ate well that week...yes many of my friends in russell are chefs, but most were working all day....luckily craig had no job and was traveling through and would go fishing and cook us fresh fish nearly every other night!!!
here are some pics of eating drinking and being merry.
